Former Saginaw Spirit captain Patrick McNeill signed a one-year two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL.File

SAGINAW, MI — After spending six years in the Washington Capitals organization, Patrick McNeill is on the move.

The former Saginaw Spirit captain agreed to a one-year two-way contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, as announced by the NHL club, and he'll be joined by former Spirit teammate Cody Bass who also signed a one-year two-way contract with the Blue Jackets.

McNeill, 26, played with the Spirit from 2003-07 where he scored 53 goals with 129 assists in 249 career playoff games. The defenseman also was named to the 2005 OHL All-Star team, in addition to playing for Canada in the 2005 U-18 World Championships.

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Draft and spent six years in the Capitals organization with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League where he scored 33 goals with 119 assists for 152 points and 150 penalty minutes. He’s a plus-37 in 325 career games with the Bears with two Calder Cup wins.

McNeill is a native of Strathroy, Ontario. He served as captain of the Spirit during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.

Bass, 26, has played in 48 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets. He was originally drafted by Ottawa, but signed with Columbus as a free agent in 2011. He won the Calder Cup with Binghamton in 2011 when he earned the Yanick Dupre Award as the AHL's Man of the Year.

He has two career NHL goals and three assists with 66 penalty minutes.

Former Spirit player Dalton Prout is currently a member of the Blue Jackets, while Nick Moutrey was selected by the club in the 2013 NHL Draft on Sunday, June 30.